Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Pisgah needs help, lend a hand at Pisgah Pride Day

PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST The half-million-acre Pisgah National Forest, stretching from McDowell County west, north and south, through Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Transylvania, Haywood, Yancey, Mitchell and points beyond, could really use some help.

The forest gets some 6 million visitors a year, but has only a small handful of Forest Service staff, who can in no way take care of the hundreds of miles of trails, pick up trash, or even patrol the forest adequately.

The Pisgah Conservancy, a nonprofit formed last year, is working with the U.S. Forest Service and many other organizations to host “Pisgah Pride Day,” on Saturday, April 29. It is the second annual volunteer work day in the Pisgah Ranger District.

Most work crews will convene at the Ranger Station on U.S. 276 and disperse into the forest to perform trail work, treat invasive species, pick up trash, clean up the Davidson River, and more.

One group of Asheville volunteers will meet at nearby Bent Creek. After the cleanup, volunteers will gather at Oskar Blues in Brevard to celebrate the results, with a percentage of beverage proceeds going to The Pisgah Conservancy.

“Last year we had an outpouring of support from the community for this work day to take care of Pisgah,” said John Cottingham, executive director of The Pisgah Conservancy. Many folks thanked us for the opportunity to work in Pisgah and asked when they could do it again.”

The Pisgah Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service have recently drafted an agreement to cooperate on wide-ranging issues and to find creative solutions to support Pisgah.

“Pisgah Pride Day is a great opportunity for everyone who hikes, rides, climbs, runs, hunts, fishes, slides, picnics, or just enjoys the scenery in Pisgah to get out and help us take care of it,” said Dave Casey, newly appointed Ranger for the Pisgah Ranger District.